Renewing your hazmat endorsement


Your “H” expires about every five years. Here’s what renewal takes, when to start, and how to keep it from lapsing.

Start your hazmat course

To renew a hazmat endorsement you complete a new TSA background check — including new fingerprints and the federal fee — and, in many states, retake the HazMat Knowledge Test. You do not retake your ELDT theory course, because ELDT is a one-time requirement that never expires.

What you need — and what you don’t to renew

Renewal is lighter than getting the endorsement the first time. The security vetting comes back around; the training doesn’t.

Required

What you do need

  • A new TSA Security Threat Assessment
  • New fingerprints at an enrollment center
  • The federal fee again ($85.25, or $41 with a TWIC)
  • The HazMat Knowledge Test — required in many states
  • Your state’s DMV and endorsement fees
  • Proof of citizenship or lawful status

Not required

What you don’t need

  • ELDT hazmat theory — it’s a one-time requirement
  • A road or skills test — hazmat never has one
  • A new TSA check if you’re transferring states mid-cycle
  • A separate TSA PreCheck enrollment

Does the knowledge test come back at renewal?

It depends on your state, and this is where drivers get caught out. Some states require the HazMat Knowledge Test at every renewal; others only require it in certain circumstances. Because the rule varies and states change it, confirm with your DMV before you assume you’re only doing the background check.

The process

How to renew your hazmat endorsement

The order looks a lot like the first time, minus the training. The TSA check is still the long pole — start there.

Step 1

Start 60–90 days out 

TSA asks renewing drivers to begin no later than 30 days before expiration, but 30 days is tight — clearance can take four to eight weeks on its own. Starting two to three months early is what keeps you from lapsing.

Step 2

Re-apply for the TSA background check

Pre-enroll again through TSA’s Universal Enroll program (or your state’s own program), book a fingerprinting appointment, and pay the federal fee. Yes — new prints every cycle, even if nothing about your record has changed.

Step 3

Retake the knowledge test if your state requires it

Many states have you sit the HazMat Knowledge Test again at renewal — the same written exam from Section 9 of your state’s CDL manual. Check with your DMV so you’re not surprised at the counter.

Step 4

Finish at the DMV

Once TSA clears you, your state is notified. Visit the DMV with your documents, pay the endorsement fee, and your renewed “H” is issued — good for another five-year cycle.

LINE BY LINE

Renewal timing and cost

The essentials

Renewal cycle Florida renews every 4 years; some states tie it to your CDL cycle
5 years
When to start TSA’s minimum is 30 days — but that’s cutting it close
60–90 days
TSA background check New fingerprints and a new federal fee
$85.25
With a valid TWIC In states that accept the comparability
$41.00
DMV & state fees Knowledge test and endorsement fees, where they apply
$10–$70
Plan for renewal
$90–$155 · ~2 months

Cheaper than the first time — no ELDT to buy again

What happens if your hazmat endorsement expires?

The moment your endorsement expires, you can’t legally haul placarded hazardous materials — which for a lot of drivers means being taken off the loads that pay best until it’s restored.


A short lapse usually just means finishing the normal renewal steps. A long one is different, and this is the part most drivers don’t see coming.


A long lapse can put you back to square one.

If your endorsement has been expired for an extended period, some states stop treating you as a renewal and start treating you as a first-time applicant — which means ELDT hazmat theory becomes required again, on top of the TSA check and knowledge test. How long is “extended” varies by state, so if yours has lapsed, check with your DMV before you assume it’s a simple renewal.

Moving states

Transferring your endorsement to a new state

If you move mid-cycle, you generally don’t have to redo the TSA background check — as long as your new state can issue an endorsement that expires within five years of your most recent threat assessment.


What your new state can still require is its own written knowledge test before it will issue the transferred endorsement. Rules differ, so check with the DMV in your new state as part of your move.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get your Entry-Level Driver Training questions answered

Getting your hazmat endorsement

  • What is a hazmat endorsement?

    A hazmat (H) endorsement is added to your CDL and authorizes you to transport hazardous materials. First-time applicants must complete FMCSA-required ELDT theory training, pass a TSA background check, and pass the DMV hazmat knowledge test.

  • What is ELDT hazmat training?

    ELDT — Entry-Level Driver Training — is the theory training the FMCSA requires before you can take the hazmat knowledge test for the first time. It must come from a provider listed on the Training Provider Registry, which is exactly what ELDT.com provides.

  • Is there a road test for the hazmat endorsement?

    No. The hazmat endorsement requires no behind-the-wheel, road, or skills test. It’s the ELDT theory course, the TSA background check, and the written HazMat Knowledge Test.

  • I already have my CDL. Do I still take a knowledge test?

    YES, we are on the provider list.


    Approved FMCSA Registry List look-up 

    We have added a little video so you can see how to look us up. 


    Following the directions below 

    Click: https://tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov/ 

    Type in: ELDT. Click the online tab and scroll down till you see "ELDT." That is us. 


    Click on the website icon to the right, and it will take you back to ELDT.com 

  • What is the hazmat test at the DMV called?

    It’s the HazMat Knowledge Test — you’ll also see it called the hazardous materials knowledge test or the H endorsement written test. It’s a written, multiple-choice exam, typically 30 questions with 80% required to pass, based on Section 9 of your state’s CDL manual. It’s separate from the general knowledge, combination, and air brakes tests you took for your Class A or B CDL.

  • Do I still need a TSA background check?

    Yes. Every hazmat applicant must pass the TSA Security Threat Assessment, which includes fingerprinting. It typically takes four to eight weeks to clear, so apply early.

  • How much does a hazmat endorsement cost?

    All-in, roughly $150–$275: the ELDT theory course ($25–$94 with us), the TSA background check (about $86.50, or ~$41 with a TWIC), a DMV knowledge-test fee, and a small state endorsement fee.

  • How long does the whole hazmat endorsement process take?

    Usually 6–10 weeks end to end — and almost all of that is waiting on the TSA background check (4–8 weeks). The course itself takes about two hours, and the DMV knowledge test can often be scheduled within days of your ELDT being reported. Start your TSA application the same day you finish the course and you’ll shave weeks off the total.

Course Specific

  • How long does the course take?

    Most drivers finish in about two days. You can save your progress at any point and pick up right where you left off.

  • Is the ELDT you offer recognized in all 50 states?

    Yes. We cover your theory portion per FMCSA CFR Part 380, and we’re a verified provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry. Check your local DMV in case your state requires anything additional.

  • When will my results reach the DMV?

    Instantly. When you submit, your results enter the FMCSA database that the DMV checks. Make sure your info matches your license exactly.

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